Possible Link Between Heartburn Medications and COVID-19 Risk

Results of a survey study with more than 50,000 participants showed that the regular use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—medications used to reduce stomach acid—raised the risk of testing positive for COVID-19. The risk was higher among those who took PPIs twice per day compared with those who took the medication once daily. Previous research found that the closely related SARS-CoV-1 was inactivated in the presence of an acidic gastrointestinal environment and was better able to survive in the more neutral environment created by PPIs. The study authors assert more research is necessary, and also note that little benefit is gained from the twice-daily use of PPIs, suggesting that users consider limiting PPI consumption to once per day. Read more here.